- Enrollment
- 774
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ionia, MI
Emerson School
Federal NCES profile for Emerson School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261925000852
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Emerson School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 88% of Michigan schools.
- #3 of 5
- schools in Ionia · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.9:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 65.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Emerson School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson School ranks #3 of 5 schools in Ionia, MI.
School address
District: Ionia Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261925000852 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
Emerson School held near 171 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 14.0 → 11.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 261925000852 · Ionia, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
166 enr · 11.9:1 · 65.1% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Ionia High School (774 students)
Emerson School held near 171 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 14.0 → 11.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Emerson School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ionia High Sch
Ionia High School
774 students
- Ionia Middle S
Ionia Middle School
629 students
- Aa Rather Scho 308
Aa Rather School
308 students
- Jefferson Scho 272
Jefferson School
272 students
- Rb Boyce Eleme 254
Rb Boyce Elementary School
254 students
- This school 166
Emerson School
166 students
What this shows Emerson School reports 166 students on the CCD universe file.
How Emerson School compares
Emerson School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.9:1 | ▼ 32% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.1% | ▲ 20% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 166 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.9:1
Leaner classes than 76% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
166
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.9:1
students per teacher
- 32% below state mean
Top 12% in Michigan - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
42.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,318
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.7%
Hispanic or Latino 21.1%
Two or More 6.0%
African American 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 71.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.8, Emerson School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Ionia Public Schools reports $12,318 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Emerson School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ionia High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ionia Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Aa Rather School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jefferson School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rb Boyce Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Emerson School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 629
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 308
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 272
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 254
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~166 students)
Frequently asked questions about Emerson School
How many students attend Emerson School?
Emerson School has 166 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ionia, MI. CCD year-over-year: 172 (2022-23) → 171 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Emerson School?
The student-teacher ratio at Emerson School is 11.9:1, which is 32% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 24% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Emerson School?
65.1% of students at Emerson School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Emerson School?
The largest demographic group at Emerson School is White at 71.7% of enrollment, in Ionia, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Emerson School?
Emerson School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Emerson School rank among schools in Ionia?
By Resource Investment Index, Emerson School ranks #3 of 5 schools in Ionia, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Ionia on the city page.
What other schools are in Ionia Public Schools?
Besides Emerson School, Ionia Public Schools also operates Ionia High School (774 students), Ionia Middle School (629 students), and Aa Rather School (308 students). See the Ionia Public Schools district page for the complete list.